Ohio · Federal Grant

Sea Grant / NOAA (Ohio)

Ohio Sea Grant, part of NOAA's National Sea Grant network, funds education, research, and outreach connecting Ohio students and communities to the Great Lakes ecosystem, water resources, and STEM careers in aquatic and environmental science.

Funding

$10,000–$150,000

Eligibility

Ohio universities, schools, and nonprofits

Grade Focus

K-12 and higher education

Subject

Marine / Freshwater Science / STEM

Deadline

Annual (check ohioseagrant.osu.edu)

Type

Federal Grant

About This Grant

Ohio Sea Grant, administered through Ohio State University, funds research and education focused on Ohio's freshwater resources — primarily Lake Erie, one of the most economically and ecologically important Great Lakes. Ohio Sea Grant education programs help students understand the science of freshwater systems, fisheries, coastal erosion, and water quality challenges.

Lake Erie faces significant environmental pressures including algal blooms, invasive species, and climate change impacts. Ohio Sea Grant education programs give K-12 students the science background to understand these challenges and the technology skills to participate in monitoring and solutions. Physical computing and sensor-based monitoring tools are natural fits for Sea Grant-funded programs.

Ohio Sea Grant has a strong K-12 outreach component, with curriculum resources and education partnerships across the Lake Erie basin. Schools in Cleveland, Toledo, Sandusky, and other Lake Erie communities are natural Sea Grant partners, but inland Ohio schools that use Ohio rivers, reservoirs, and streams as investigation sites also qualify.

View Sea Grant / NOAA (Ohio) →

Eligibility

Ohio colleges, universities, and K-12 schools with Great Lakes or freshwater education programs
Nonprofits and education organizations in Ohio's Lake Erie watershed
Programs with educational components tied to freshwater, Great Lakes, or aquatic science
Research or education proposals demonstrating relevance to Ohio's water resources

Allowable Uses

Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
CS and AI literacy curriculum
Teacher professional development
Water quality monitoring equipment, aquatic sampling tools, and field investigation costs

Forward Education Products for This Grant

Forward Education offers classroom-ready kits that align with Ohio CS standards and fit cleanly into grant budgets. All kits include teacher guides and curriculum.

micro:bit Starter Kit — Entry-level physical computing, perfect for introducing coding and computational thinking.
MicroChat AI Literacy Kit — Hands-on AI literacy curriculum covering machine learning concepts for K-12 classrooms.
Coding for Good Kit — Project-based learning kit connecting coding skills to real-world community challenges.
micro:bit Robotics Kit — Advanced robotics and engineering challenges for deeper CS exploration.

Keep in Mind

Lake Erie and the Great Lakes are your strongest Ohio Sea Grant angle — connect your program to real Great Lakes science questions.
Ohio Sea Grant partners with Ohio State extension services; a partnership with OSU extension strengthens proposals.
Programs that generate real water quality or ecological data that Sea Grant researchers can use are particularly compelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ohio Sea Grant fund inland schools far from Lake Erie?

Programs connected to Ohio rivers, streams, and reservoirs can qualify — the key is freshwater/Great Lakes watershed relevance, not just Lake Erie proximity.

Can physical computing tools be used in Sea Grant programs?

Yes. Sensors for water quality, temperature, or ecological monitoring are excellent Sea Grant program tools.

How competitive is Ohio Sea Grant funding?

Ohio Sea Grant runs competitive funding cycles. Programs with strong scientific partnerships and clear connections to Lake Erie or Ohio water research are most competitive.

Can K-8 schools apply for Ohio Sea Grant education programs?

Yes. Sea Grant education programs serve K-12, with many successful programs at elementary and middle schools along the Lake Erie shoreline.

How can Forward Education help?

We provide curriculum alignment documents mapped to Ohio CS standards, pricing letters for grant budgets, and letters of support for qualifying applications. Reach out before you apply.